Shared Care Scotland facilitates a network of local authority and health board officers who have a strategic responsibility for the planning, commissioning and development of short break and respite services. The Sharing Practice network meets twice a year in conference but smaller task groups meet throughout the year on specific project related work. The network also communicates via an online discussion forum.
The full terms of reference for the group can be downloaded by clicking here.
Anyone interested in joining this network should contact Don Williamson at the Shared Care Scotland office or by email at: don.williamson@sharedcarescotland.com.
The next event is due to take place in May 2010.
The last Sharing Practice Event took place in Renfrewshire on the 12th November 2009
Click here to download resources from this event
The programme for the day included items on the latest national planning guidance on short breaks (respite care), progress towards the government’s target of an additional 10,000 weeks of respite provision by 2011, and an update on the development of a new National Carers Strategy for Scotland. During the day we also explored alternative, creative approaches to short break provision with colleagues and invited speakers.
Contributors included:
• Gordon Paterson, Policy for Unpaid Carers, Scottish Government
• John Paterson, Head of Community Care, Renfrewshire Council
• Mike Stevenson, Director, Thinktastic
• Florence Burke, Director, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Scotland
• Anne Fernie, Scotland Development Officer, Shared Lives
• Emma Clarke, Director, Direct Short Breaks, KIDS
As with previous events, the day inluded a mixture of briefings, discussion, group work and an information & ideas exchange.
Click here to download the programme
The most recent Sharing Practice event took place in Stirling on Tuesday 11th November 2008. On this occasion the event was hosted by Stirling Council. Topics for the event included: Achieving an outcome focused approach to the planning and commissioning of short break services; developing a Short Break Bureau & Managing Risk.
DOWNLOADS:
Briefly the purpose of SPN events is to:
Facilitate networking opportunities.
Identify and share examples of good practice (local & national)
Promote and facilitate effective partnership working between health and local authorities in the development of respite services
Provide information and feedback on current national and local issues which impact on the development of respite services.
Identify and discuss key issues in relation to the definition, the ongoing development and design of respite services and where appropriate examine potential solutions.
Consider relevant legislation examining its application and impact on services.
Provide via Shared Care Scotland an additional channel of communication with policy makers and legislators.
Papers from previous meetings
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